Cloud Computing in Nursing: Healthcare Technology Impacts

Introduction

Technology advancement within today's society ensures that new ways of performing tasks must continually be learned. This cycle of discovery is at the heart of every academic and professional pursuit that shapes and evolves our methods and thinking. The digital revolution of the last two decades has forced many industries to alter their approach to core tasks, requiring re-education and an openness to welcoming new ideas into practice.

The purpose of this essay is to explain the notion of cloud computing and how this technological practice is modifying the world we live in. Key concepts related to cloud computing are introduced to demonstrate its effect on modern life. To further develop this argument, the essay explores personal career goals in nursing and how they relate to cloud computing, as well as how this technology might be incorporated into future professional endeavors.

Background: Understanding Cloud Computing

Cloud computing represents a new step in online communication. The "cloud" itself is a general term that can refer to hardware packages, networks, storage devices, and other interconnected components that combine to deliver a computing service. Much like real clouds, the cloud is not immediately tangible — it must be accessed in order to retrieve the data it holds.

Cloud services can perform many tasks with far-reaching implications for industries and educational systems alike. The cloud can deliver software, infrastructure designs, and storage capabilities over the internet, freeing end users from the burden of maintaining large local databases and purchasing complicated, expensive software. Cloud computing is, at its core, designed to deliver a new sense of freedom and flexibility for those working with computer technology.

Cloud Computing and the Nursing Profession

Cloud computing can arrive in many different forms, and the term "cloud" simply means an off-site location. There are public clouds and private clouds that provide varying levels of security and service. The cloud can have significant impacts on the way all industries operate and can eliminate many of the constraints of a typical computing environment, including limitations related to time, cost, power, and physical space.

My current occupation is as a legal assistant, and I have valued the experiences this role has provided. My future, however, is in nursing — a field I have been drawn to by a genuine desire to care for others. Healthcare in general has long served as a proving ground for new technologies, and it should come as no surprise that cloud computing is playing a significant role in how nursing professionals carry out their work.

Tiffin (2012) described this new landscape for healthcare professionals as challenging yet full of opportunity, writing: "New health care technology is also creating opportunities for nurses. More and more aspects of the profession are electronic: test results, X-rays, blood work, and ordering medication. An array of new technologies — mobile devices, electronic medical records, cloud computing, and teleconferencing — invite nurses to be digitally ambitious." Along with growing technological expertise, nurses are also taking on broader leadership roles as healthcare continues to evolve.

The healthcare system faces significant challenges, and technology is increasingly needed to address them. Cloud computing offers features that can alleviate many of the issues hampering the effectiveness of nurses in today's medical field. Good (2013) emphasized the urgency of adoption, noting that "a recent study by the firm MarketsandMarkets indicates that the healthcare cloud computing market, which is only currently about 4% of the industry, is expected to grow to nearly $5.4 billion by 2017. The cloud migration process, however, can be daunting for healthcare organizations since they have to move a ton of data." These figures underscore both the potential and the practical challenges involved in transitioning healthcare systems to the cloud.

Conclusion

From a nursing perspective, Holloway (2013) makes a compelling point regarding the practical dimensions of this technology, suggesting that "cloud computing health data providers must demonstrate their ability to meet requirements for privacy and security through encryption and protection of any health data. There are a few cases in the U.S. of cloud-based health information privacy being compromised, which suggests the process is not yet perfect." With every new technology comes a new responsibility for how that power is wielded. Cloud computing is no different — it must be approached with deliberate care and purpose.

Technologies such as cloud computing, and the capabilities they bring, are essential to the continued evolution of our society. Healthcare, alongside technology, is one of the most telling indicators of how well a society is functioning. At present, it is clear that healthcare systems face serious challenges and require additional support in addressing the wide range of health risks present in today's world. A thoughtful fusion of cloud computing technologies and evidence-based nursing practice appears well-positioned to address many of these issues directly. As I progress through this career field, I look forward to seeing how this integration unfolds and how I might contribute meaningfully to this evolving process.